Sea King helicopters with commemorative paint schemes headed for museums

Some Defence Watch readers have asked about a RCAF Sea King that has been seen flying with an unusual paint scheme. They also asked why there hasn’t been any publicity about this new paint scheme.

So Defence Watch asked the RCAF those questions. Below is the answer:

“As the Royal Canadian Air Force transitions from the CH-124 Sea King to the CH-148 Cyclone, it was decided that two Sea Kings, CH-12401 and CH-12417, would eventually be turned over to the Shearwater Museum and the Canadian Aviation and Space Museum, respectively,” RCAF spokesman David Lavallee explained. “As part of the commemorative value of having these aircraft in these museums, they were painted in the Royal Canadian Navy scheme that the Sea King sported when it was first acquired by the Canadian Armed Forces. Both aircraft were painted at 12 Wing Shearwater this spring. CH-12417 is still fully operational, and now that painting is complete, it is transiting to 443 Squadron at Patricia Bay, B.C., from where it will operate, as Halifax-based 423 Squadron is now only operating the CH-148 Cyclone.”

As it traveled west, CH-12417 appeared at the Great Lakes International Air Show in St. Thomas, Ont., June 16-17, Lavallee noted.

As for the lack of publicity, Lavallee stated this:

“Aircraft from all fleets receive commemorative paint schemes from time to time, and we don’t typically announce them. While we do make announcements for major paint schemes like the CF-18 Demonstration Team or the Snowbirds, it is because those are demonstration aircraft. The major public event to say farewell to the CH-124 Sea King will be the aircraft’s final flight as a Canadian military helicopter (after more than 55 years of service), which will take place in December 2018, and for which plans are still being developed.”

Photo above courtesy RCAF.

For those readers who want to find out about Sea King retirement festivities check out this website: